Sanguisorba plant named ‘Tough Dream’

ABSTRACT

The new cultivar of Sanguisorba plant named ‘Tough Dream’ that is characterized by its strong branches, its exhibits inflorescences and flowers that are small in size and deep burgundy-red in color, and its sturdy and upright flowers.

Botanical classification: Sanguisorba officinalis.

Variety denomination: ‘Tough Dream’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to European Community Plant VarietyOffice (CPVO) Plant Breeder's Rights Application No. 2021/2735 filed onNov. 1, 2021, application No. 2021/2735, under 35 U.S.C. 119(f), theentire contents of which is incorporated by reference herein. Thisapplication is also related to U.S. Plant Patent Application filed for aplant derived from the same breeding program that is entitledSanguisorba Plant Named ‘Red Dream’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 32,441) andSanguisorba Plant Named ‘Big Dream’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 33,601). Thisapplication is co-pending with U.S. Plant Patent Applications filed forplants derived from the same breeding program that are entitledSanguisorba Plant Named ‘Fall Dream’ (U.S. Plant patent application Ser.No. 17/752,837), Sanguisorba Plant Named ‘Sweet Dream’ (U.S. Plantpatent application Ser. No. 17/752,840).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofSanguisorba officinalis and will be referred to hereafter by itscultivar name, ‘Tough Dream’. ‘Tough Dream’ represents a new Burnet, anherbaceous perennial grown for landscape use.

The inventor discovered the new cultivar, ‘Tough Dream’, as a chanceseedling in a trial garden in September of 2018 in Rijnsburg, TheNetherlands. The parentage is unknown.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished bydivision in 2018 by the Inventor in Rijnsburg, The Netherlands. Asexualpropagation by division has determined that the new cultivar is stableand reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combinationdistinguish ‘Tough Dream’ as a unique cultivar of Sanguisorba.

-   1. ‘Tough Dream’ exhibits strong branches.-   2. ‘Tough Dream’ exhibits inflorescences and flowers that are small    in size and deep burgundy-red in color-   3. ‘Tough Dream’ exhibits sturdy and upright flowers.

‘Tough Dream’ can be most closely compared to Sanguisorba officinaliscultivars ‘Big Dream’, ‘Red Dream’, ‘Fall Dream’, and ‘Sweet Dream’.‘Big Dream’, ‘Red Dream’, ‘Fall Dream’, and ‘Sweet Dream’ are allsimilar to ‘Tough Dream’ in having upright plant habits and tall plantheights. ‘Big Dream’ differs from ‘Tough Dream’ in having inflorescencesand stamen filaments that are grey-purple in color. ‘Red Dream’ differsfrom ‘Tough Dream’ in having a smaller plant size and filaments that arewhite in color. ‘Fall Dream’ differs from ‘Tough Dream’ in having largerinflorescences and weaker branches. ‘Sweet Dream’ differs from ‘ToughDream’ in having flowers that are pink in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance anddistinct characteristics of the new Sanguisorba. The photographs weretaken of a one-year-old plant of the new cultivar as field grownoutdoors in Rijnsburg, The Netherlands and placed in a container for thephotographs.

The photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates the overall habit and appearance of‘Tough Dream’ in bloom.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of the inflorescencesof ‘Tough Dream’.

The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a close-up view of the foliage of‘Tough Dream’.

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with thephotographic and printing technology utilized and color values cited inthe detailed botanical description accurately describe the colors of thenew Sanguisorba.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of one-year-old plants from adivision of the new cultivar as field grown in Rijnsburg, TheNetherlands. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variationsin environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not beentested under all possible environmental conditions. The colordetermination is in accordance with The 2015 Colour Chart of The RoyalHorticultural Society, London, England, except where general color termsof ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:    -   -   Blooming period.—September in The Netherlands.        -   Plant shape.—Oblong, upright.        -   Plant habit.—Herbaceous perennial.        -   Height and spread.—Average of 1.22 m in height from soil            level to top of foliar plane, 1.72 m in height from soil            level to top of floral plane, 83.5 cm in spread.        -   Hardiness.—At least in U.S.D.A. Zones 4 to 9.        -   Diseases and pests.—No susceptibility or resistance to            diseases or pests has been observed.        -   Root description.—Moderately fibrous, very freely branched,            smooth, glabrous with no root hairs, main roots are an            average of 3 mm in diameter, 164C in color.        -   Root development.—A young plant rooted plant can be produced            in 6 to 7 months.        -   Propagation.—Division.        -   Growth rate.—Vigorous.-   Stem description:    -   -   Shape.—Round, moderately angled.        -   Stem color.—Young; 143B, mature; a blend of 143B and 144A.        -   Stem size.—Up to 1.2 m cm in length and 6 mm in diameter.        -   Stem aspect.—Average of 10° to vertical (varying between 0°            and 20°).        -   Stem surface.—Slightly glossy.        -   Internode length.—Up to 10.9 cm.        -   Branching.—Average of 5 main branches and 30 lateral            branches per plant.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Leaf shape.—Narrow obovate.        -   Leaf division.—Compound, imparipinnate; an average of 11            leaflets per leaf (ranges from 13 leaflets on the lower            leaves to 7 leaflets on the upper leaves).        -   Leaf base.—Truncate, upper stem leaflets attenuate.        -   Leaf apex.—Abruptly acute.        -   Leaf aspect.—Average of 40° to stem.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Leaf size.—Average of 35.8 cm in length (including petiole),            12.4 cm in width.        -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Leaflet.—Lanceolate to narrow oblong in shape, terminal            leaflets; average of 6 cm in length, 2.6 cm in width,            lateral leaflets; average of 5.9 cm in length and 2.5 cm in            width, abruptly acute apex, truncate base.        -   Leaflet venation.—Pinnate, upper surface color 146C, lower            surface 147C.        -   Leaflet margins.—Dentate to serrate.        -   Leaflet surface.—Both surfaces smooth and glabrous.        -   Leaflet color.—Young upper surface NN137A to NN137B, young            lower surface a blend of 138A and 147B, mature upper surface            NN137A, mature lower surface 147B.        -   Rachis (petiole) and petiolule.—Rachis (petiole); average of            27.8 cm in length, 2.25 mm in diameter, petiolule; average            of 2 cm in length and 1 mm in diameter, slightly glossy,            smooth and glabrous, strong, upper surface color 146B,            rachis tinged 187B at the leaflet nodes, lower surface 146B,            petiolules slightly lighter and 187B.        -   Stipules.—At the base of each leaf is a leafy stipule is            present on each side, shaped falcate, average of 2.9 cm in            length, 1.6 cm in width, both surfaces smooth and glabrous,            margins dentate to serrate, top abruptly acute, upper side            slightly glossy, color; NN137A, lower surface 147B, lower            stem leaves; a leafy stipule is present on either side at            the base of each petiolule, ovate to orbicular in shape,            average of 1.2 cm in length, average of 1 cm in width, both            surfaces smooth and glabrous, margins dentate to serrate,            both surfaces slightly glossy, color; NN137A, lower surface            147B.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Type.—Terminal spikes of numerous, densely packed flowers in            elongated ovoid to oblong shaped inflorescence, determinate.        -   Inflorescence size.—Panicle; average of 40 cm in height,            34.8 cm in diameter, spike; 2.9 cm in height, 1.1 cm in            diameter.        -   Fragrance.—Very faint and unpleasant.        -   Flower lastingness.—About 14 days, persistent.        -   Flower quantity.—Average of 115 flowers per spike, over            17,500 flowers and buds per plant.        -   Flower aspect.—Rotate, single, outward and freely flowering.        -   Flower size.—Average of 3.5 mm in height and diameter, 4 mm            in depth.        -   Peduncle.—Average of 14.3 cm in length, 1.25 mm in diameter,            held in an average of 0° to vertical, secondary 35° to            vertical, strong, smooth and glabrous, slightly glossy, a            blend of 144A and 146B in color.        -   Bud description.—Average of 2.5 mm in length and 1.5 mm in            diameter, obovate in shape, smooth, glabrous, and matte            surface, color; N186C, base 157A.        -   Petals.—Rotate, cruciform, average of 4, 1 row, un-fused, 2            mm in length, 1.5 mm in width, broadly ovate in shape, tip            is broadly acute and slightly recurved, broadly cuneate            base, entire and undulate margins, both surfaces glabrous,            slightly velvety and matte, color; when opening upper            surface; N186A, margins 59C, when opening lower surface;            N186A, margins 59B, when fully open upper and lower surface            N186B, broadly margined 59B, veins N186B, both surfaces when            fading N186B, broadly margined 59A.        -   Calyx.—Rotate, cruciform, average of 1.25 mm in length, 1 mm            in diameter.        -   Sepal.—An average of 4 in 1 row, average of 1.25 mm in            length and 0.75 mm in width, ovate in shape, bluntly acute            tip, cuneate acute base, entire margins, both surfaces            smooth and glabrous, color; when opening and fully open            upper and lower surface 152D.        -   Flower bracts.—None.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Gynoecium.—Pistil: 1, average of 2.5 mm in length, stigma is            flattened and club-shaped, 0.3 mm in length and in diameter,            187B in color, style; average of 2.25 mm in length, 187B in            color, base N187D, ovary; 143B in color.        -   Androecium.—Stamens; average of 4, filament; 1 mm in length,            N186C in color, anthers; short, kidney-shaped, N186A in            color, 0.5 mm in length and width, pollen; low in quantity,            23A in color.        -   Fruit/seed.—None observed.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Sanguisorba plant named‘Tough Dream’ as herein illustrated and described.